Billy Joel paid tribute to the late guitarist Jeff Beck during his Madison Square Garden concert on Friday, days after the rocker passed away.
Iconic musician Beck died aged 78 on Tuesday, after contracting bacterial meningitis.
Joel was performing at one of his regular Madison Square Garden residency shows in New York City on Friday, when he addressed Beck’s passing.
Tribute: Just days after legendary guitarist Jeff Beck passed away, another iconic musician paid tribute to him, Billy Joel
RIP: Beck passed away at 78 years of age on Tuesday, after contracting bacterial meningitis
‘He was a musician I always loved. he was the best Jeff Beck just passed away recently,’ Joel said to applause in a video from the show (via Billy Joel Concert Video).
‘I couldn’t let the night go by without doing something by Jeff, This is a recording he did with Rod Stewart, called People Get Ready,’ Joel said before breaking into the song.
The song was recorded in 1985 and appeared on his eighth studio album Flash.
The best: ‘He was a musician I always loved. he was the best Jeff Beck just passed away recently,’ Joel said to applause in a video from the show (via Billy Joel Concert Video)
Couldn’t: ‘I couldn’t let the night go by without doing something by Jeff, This is a recording he did with Rod Stewart, called People Get Ready,’ Joel said before breaking into the song
Before the show ended, Joel and his band decided to play Going Down by Alabama State Troupers, which Beck covered on his 1972 album The Jeff Beck Group.
‘We should have rehearsed this today,’ Joel joked after the performance.
Beck’s family confirmed the guitarist’s death with a statement that was released on Wednesday.
Another song: Before the show ended, Joel and his band decided to play Going Down by Alabama State Troupers, which Beck covered on his 1972 album The Jeff Beck Group
Confirmed: Beck’s family confirmed the guitarist’s death with a statement that was released on Wednesday
‘On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s Passing,’ the statement began.
‘After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family asks for privacy while they process this tremendous loss,’ the statement concluded.
Reacting to the “sad news” of Beck’s death, Joel sent a statement to People, calling him ‘the great, virtuoso guitarist.’
Passing: ‘On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s Passing,’ the statement began
Billy’s statement: Reacting to the “sad news” of Beck’s death, Joel sent a statement to People, calling him ‘the great, virtuoso guitarist’
“He was one of my heroes. I was fortunate to meet him recently, and I’m very grateful now that I was able to tell him how much I admired his musical skill. This is the end of an era. RIP,’ he added.
A representative of the man regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, said that Beck had been ill over the holiday period and passed away at a hospital close to his home in Surrey.
Beck is survived by his sixth wife, Sandra.
Heroes: “He was one of my heroes. I was fortunate to meet him recently, and I’m very grateful now that I was able to tell him how much I admired his musical skill. This is the end of an era. RIP, ‘ he added
Ill: A representative for the man regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, said that Beck had been ill over the holiday period and passed away at a hospital close to his home in Surrey
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